We have arrived on day 3 of the Virtual Open Days and after a beautiful Hazelburn and Kilkerran, we’re now at the third festival bottling, namely the Longrow 10 year old. And that is one that I myself, together with the Springbank festival bottling, have been looking forward to the most.
The first Longrow from the Springbank stable appeared on the market in 1973 and this heavily peated single malt takes its name from the long-lost distillery of the same name. Founded in 1824 by John Ross, just 4 years before Springbank started, however, it was already closed in 1896. Part of the old buildings, the warehouse, can still be found in Campbeltown. They are directly opposite the entrance to Springbank, which it now uses as a bottling plant.
Today, several versions of Longrow have been released, including the annual Longrow Red, which, ranging from ages 11 to 13 years old, is finished each year in a different type of wine barrel and is bottled at cask strength.
And that brings us straight to this festival bottling, which is slightly younger than the Red and has fully matured in wine casks. Will this be a Longrow red on steroids?
This Longrow is 10 years old and has matured in 2 Fresh Pinot Noir and 2 Refill Malbec casks, bottled at a strength of 53.7%.
Longrow 10 year old tasting notes:
Nose: red berries and blueberries. Plums. There is some peat but well integrated. A hint of woodsmoke. Honey. Grapefruit. But also an earthy note from woodland mushrooms. Then it goes towards cheese, reminding me of brie.
Taste: a very nice, thick mouthfeel. Some smoke. Again the forest fruits, such as cranberries and blueberries. Grapefruit too. A hint of tea with honey. Slightly nutty. Followed by some spices such as black pepper, a pinch of ginger and nutmeg.
Finish: mid-long, with cranberries The same spices as on the palate and a hint of peat. A little earthy too, but this time with white mushrooms.
And again a very good festival bottling, what a treat and what a week so far. For me, this is really a whisky that I love to sip on a cold and cosy autumn evening, while the fireplace is burning. And I think that is exactly what I’m going to do this weekend, to enjoy this soothing autumn dram. Gezellig!
